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StrategyLast Updated: 2026-01-19
Zugzwang
"A situation where a player is forced to make a move that will significantly weaken their position."
Interactive Demonstration
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Visualizing the Concept
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Current FEN
8/8/8/8/4k3/8/4P3/4K3 w - - 0 1In-Depth Explanation
Zugzwang is a German word meaning 'compulsion to move'. In chess, it refers to a position where any move a player makes will result in a disadvantage. If it were legal to skip a turn, the player would do so, but since a move is mandatory, they must worsen their own position. This is most common in endgames.
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